HB198: HB198 Education; use of school facilities by certain youth groups; provide

Currently, Georgia's Code Section 20-2-12 is reserved and empty. This bill fills it in by adding rules about how local school systems must treat requests from certain youth organizations, called 'patriotic societies,' to use school facilities. The bill defines a patriotic society as a youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society, specifically naming the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and their affiliated Georgia groups and councils. Any local school system that uses state funds for its programs would not be allowed to prohibit these groups from using its facilities. If a school system denies a patriotic society access to a facility, the principal of the school where that facility is located must give the requesting group written reasons for the denial. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws.

• Fills in a previously reserved section of Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-12) with new rules about school facility access for youth groups.
• Defines 'patriotic society' as a youth group listed in federal law (Title 36 of the United States Code), naming the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA and their Georgia affiliates as examples.
• Bars local school systems that use state funds for their programs from prohibiting patriotic societies from using their facilities.
• Requires a school principal to give written reasons to a youth group if the school system denies that group access to a facility.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these new requirements.

Local school systems and school principals in Georgia, who must allow access and explain any denials in writing, and youth groups recognized as patriotic societies, such as the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA and their Georgia affiliates, who would gain guaranteed access to school facilities.

Youth groups like Scouting organizations often rely on school buildings for meetings and events. This bill would make it harder for local school systems to turn them away and would force schools to put any denial in writing, adding a layer of accountability to facility access decisions.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 20-2-12 to define 'patriotic society' by reference to Title 36 of the United States Code, naming the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA as examples.
• Section 1 states the purpose is to encourage civic education by helping students access patriotic society activities.
• Section 1 prohibits local school systems that use state funds for chapter 2 programs from denying patriotic societies use of their facilities.
• Section 1 requires the principal of the affected school to provide written reasons for any denial of facility access to the requesting group.
• Section 2 repeals any laws or parts of laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2025-02-27House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-02-26House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-02-04House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-03House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-01-30House Hopper (House)

• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-007)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• Brad Thomas (R, HD-021)

• school facilities
• Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
• civic education
• youth groups
• education policy